Lost in Translation

I’m taking a break from “academicese” – nope, it’s not procrastination.  (FYI – please click on the post title to enlarge it if you’re having trouble seeing it).

It’s National Poetry Month and almost Easter!  I’ve been meaning to get up the pictures from my trip to Seville earlier this month so I’ll use this blog

I’m a wandering tourist, and let me tell you that it’s way easy to get lost in the streets of Seville.  These narrow and winding cobblestone roads all start looking the same after a while, but then again I’m directionally challenged when it comes to maps so it’s probably just me.

If you’ve been to Spain then you know that they love their tiles.  Influenced by the Moors, tiles and ceramics are used just about everywhere in Seville: as signs, billboards and to decorate the walls, floors, ceilings, etc.

Below is one of my found treasures along the old narrow streets of Seville.  It’s a poem by Luis Cernuda about nostalgia.  I don’t know Spanish so my translation is probably off because I used a combination of free online translation tools.  Of course each one of them translates it a little differently but just enough to change the meaning and robbed it of its artistic merits (IMHO).  So, I’ve taken some poetic license in my “translation” below.  Feel free to provide your own translation.

Luis Cernuda Poem in Seville, Spain

JARDÍN ANTIGUO                                  Ancient Garden
Ir de nuevo al jardín cerrado,                   Go back to the enclosed garden,
que tras los arcos de la tapia,                     after the arches of the wall,
entre magnolios, limoneros,                      among magnolia and lemon trees,
guarda el encanto de las aguas.                that guards the enchanted water.

Oír de nuevo en el silencio,                        Hear again in silence,
vivo de trinos y de hojas,                           alive with the trills of leaves,
el susurro tibio del aire                              the whisper warm air
donde las almas viejas flotan.                    where old souls float.

Ver otra vez el cielo hondo                        See again the deep sky
a lo lejos, la torre esbelta                           in the distance, the slender tower
tal flor de luz sobre las palmas:                a flower of light on the palms:
las cosas todas siempre bellas.                  things are always beautiful.

Sentir otra vez, como entonces,               Feel again, as then,
la espina aguda del deseo,                        the acute thorn of desire,
mientras la juventud pasada                   while the passed youth
vuelve.  Sueño de un dios sin tiempo.     returns. Dream of a God without time.